HR0786 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0786 LRB101 20813 LAW 70862 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Francis P. "Frank" Rossiter Jr., M.D. of Savannah, Georgia on being inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rossiter is one of only 59 people to be inducted since the Irish America Hall of Fame was founded by Irish America Magazine in 2010; the honor recognizes individuals in the Irish American community who have made an impact on the Irish in America and who have bridged the gap between the U.S. and Ireland; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rossiter's great-grandparents, Patrick Rossiter and Anne Corrigan, were Irish emigrants from County Wexford; he was born to the late, former Savannah Mayor Pro-Tem Frank P. and Inez Coleman Rossiter; he is a native of Savannah; he attended Benedictine Military School, Armstrong College, the University of Georgia, and the Medical College of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rossiter served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1974, rising from the rank of second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel; during this time, he was appointed chief of pediatric services at Fort Ord on Monterey Bay, California, before returning to Savannah; he then served 20 years in the Georgia Army National Guard, spending the last 15 years as a colonel; he was honored with the rank of brigadier general when he retired in 2000; and

WHEREAS, During his medical career, Dr. Rossiter served in various roles in several healthcare systems located in Georgia, including St. Joseph's/Candler, Memorial Health, and Georgia Regional Hospital; he also served on the Backus Children's Hospital Advisory Board, the Ethics Committee, the Medical Advisory Committee as chairman, and the Department of Pediatrics as chairman; he retired from his medical practice in June 2003; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Dr. Rossiter was involved in a number of organizations and events, including the Chatham Artillery Association as president, the Hibernian Society, and the Armstrong Foundation Board of Directors; he was the Grand Marshal of the 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, following in the footsteps of his father who was Grand Marshal in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Dr. Rossiter serves on the Mercer University School of Medicine-Savannah Board of Governors, the Chatham County Hospital Authority, the Memorial Health University Board of Directors, the Diocese of Savannah Finance Council, and the Rourke Foundation as chairman; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Rossiter is married to Glenda Nelson, and they have been married for 48 years; they have three children and five grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Francis P. "Frank" Rossiter Jr., M.D. of Savannah, Georgia on being inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Rossiter Jr. as an expression of our esteem and respect.